4th Round - Pat Connaughton - RHP - Notre Dame

Notre Dame basketball fans should be familiar with this name as he's a two sport athlete for the Irish.

He wants to return for his senior year of basketball at Notre Dame according to this article but is still expected to sign: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2087689-pat-connaughton-will-be-steal-for-mlb-team-willing-to-allow-notre-dame-return

Video courtesy of Bullpen Banter:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/wDpsM6rZTC8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Some notes courtesy of Perfect Game:

"In what was also a very brief summer season for Connaughton in 2013, he made a very brief pit stop in the Cape Cod League with only two starts for the Harwich Mariners. But, Connaughton also made a very nice impression in that short amount of time. Reaching 94 mph with his fastball, Connaughton lived consistently at 90-93, and mixed in a sharp 72-75 mph curveball. He’ll vary the speed with it at times and overall needs to be more consistent with his feel and command of it. He also mixed a mid-80s changeup as well, but this will also need further development."

He should help our basketball team as well as he was a top guard for ND last season.

Interesting pick, interesting situation. I like the pick though.

Whichever team is willing to accept that and work a contract around it will get one of the best picks of the 2014 MLB draft.

The rising senior out of Arlington, Massachusetts has put teams interested in him in a precarious situation by insisting a different kind of return to school. Instead of wanting to play another year on the diamond, Connaughton aims to return to Notre Dame's basketball team for his senior season and has made that known to teams interested in taking him over the weekend.

Teams can sign Connaughton and still allow him to finish out his hoops career and his college degree in 2014-15 before getting into a minor league program heading into the 2015 baseball season.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2087689-pat-connaughton-will-be-steal-for-mlb-team-willing-to-allow-notre-dame-return

I don't know why he wants to go back and play basketball at ND. They weren't good this year and are losing 3 key players. I guess it's no big deal considering at best he would just pitch a few games in GCL or Aberdeen this year. We'll just have to wait to see him at the beginning of next year.

They won't trade for Samardzja so they drafted a less talented clone.

A little more background info from MLB.com:

Connaughton uses the leverage in his 6-foot-5 frame to deliver fastballs up to 95 mph with good sink. His size also creates angle and plane that make his pitches more difficult to hit, and his athleticism should allow him to make more strides once he concentrates solely on baseball. Like Samardzija at the same stage, Connaughton is far from a finished product on the mound. He lacks fastball command and doesn't miss as many bats as his velocity suggests he should. Connaughton has some feel for a changeup, but scouts aren't convinced he spins the ball well enough to develop an average curve.

He should help our basketball team as well as he was a top guard for ND last season.

From Camden Depot...

Connaughton is very raw Junior who is known far more for his exploits for the Fighting Irish basketball team. However, his frame is not truly NBA quality, which has meant that he has somewhat redirected himself towards baseball. His mechanics are currently a bit of a mess and result in a great deal of wildness. In fact, he has walked more batters this year than he has struck out. That fastball though has flashed in the high 90s and he has shown some feel for a curve. At 6'5 215 and athletic, he may have the ability to be valuable. That said, several reports have suggested that his signing will be highly dependent on him being allowed to finish out his collegiate basketball career. That desire to play hoops could result in him dropping a round or two further. However, it might also provide a chance to save money in the third round and overslot later.

I like this pick good arm and lots of upside when he concentrates on baseball. The only disadvantage is he wants to go back to play hoops so that will hurt his progress some until he concentrates only on the diamond.

From Camden Depot...

Connaughton is very raw Junior who is known far more for his exploits for the Fighting Irish basketball team. However, his frame is not truly NBA quality, which has meant that he has somewhat redirected himself towards baseball. His mechanics are currently a bit of a mess and result in a great deal of wildness. In fact, he has walked more batters this year than he has struck out. That fastball though has flashed in the high 90s and he has shown some feel for a curve. At 6'5 215 and athletic, he may have the ability to be valuable. That said, several reports have suggested that his signing will be highly dependent on him being allowed to finish out his collegiate basketball career. That desire to play hoops could result in him dropping a round or two further. However, it might also provide a chance to save money in the third round and overslot later.

Not sure who Camdem Depot is but his MLB scouting report says "Connaughton has some feel for a changeup, but scouts aren't convinced he spins the ball well enough to develop an average curve." So it appears he may end up a BP guy if he can throw a fastball and has "some" feel for a changeup.

I like this pick good arm and lots of upside when he concentrates on baseball. The only disadvantage is he wants to go back to play hoops so that will hurt his progress some until he concentrates only on the diamond.

Agreed. It appears that his mechanics can be a little iffy at times and he can be wild, but hopefully that will get better after he concentrates on baseball. Unfortunately that will probably be in 2015, but that's fine. We took him knowing that risk.

They won't trade for Samardzja so they drafted a less talented clone.

Wow - killing it with ascorbic sarcasm......throughout....:clap3:

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Malike again.

They won't trade for Samardzja so they drafted a less talented clone.

I like this kid better then the one they drafted in the third round.

I like this kid better then the one they drafted in the third round.

I agree the 3rd round pick had to be to get some money for the later rounds. After watching the video of him if he throws 95 now he can easily bump that up. He gets very little follow through on his pitches and exxtension downhill. If they can get the mechanics fixed could be a very nice bullpen arm.

Not sure who Camdem Depot is but his MLB scouting report says "Connaughton has some feel for a changeup, but scouts aren't convinced he spins the ball well enough to develop an average curve." So it appears he may end up a BP guy if he can throw a fastball and has "some" feel for a changeup.

Camden Depot. Jon Shepherd. Very knowledgeable.

Camden Depot. Jon Shepherd. Very knowledgeable.

And great with herd-able mammals.